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Story of Astika and Snake sacrifice

Astika’s father was Jaratkaru, an ascetic sage dedicated to a life of severe penance and austerity. His name “Jaratkaru” means “he who wears rags,” reflecting his simple and ascetic lifestyle. He was a descendant of the sage Kashyapa and belonged to the lineage of great sages. Jaratkaru once embarked on a journey across the world, visiting various places, bathing in numerous sacred waters, and resting wherever nightfall overtook him. The sage lived on air alone and renounced sleep forever. Wandering one day, he saw his ancestors dangling upside down in a massive hole, their feet pointing skyward. Seeing them, Jaratkaru addressed, saying: “Who are you, hanging head-down in this hole by a rope of virama fibres, which is being secretly gnawed from all sides by a rat living here?” The ancestors replied, “We are Rishis of rigid vows, known as Yayavaras. We are sinking into the earth because of the lack of offspring. We have a son named Jaratkaru. Alas! He has devoted himself solely to a life of austerities and does not consider marriage to raise offspring. It is this fear of our lineage’s extinction that has left us suspended in this hole. Who are you, noble one, who sorrow for us as a friend? Jaratkaru responded, “You are my sires and grandsires. I am that Jaratkaru! Please tell me how I may serve you.”

The ancestors then answered, “Do your best to beget a son to extend our lineage. By doing so, you will perform a meritorious act for both yourself and us. Therefore, by our command, set your heart on marriage and offspring. This is our highest good.” Jaratkaru replied, “I shall not marry for my sake, nor shall I earn wealth for enjoyment, but I shall do so for your welfare only. According to this understanding, I shall take a wife to achieve this end. If a bride of the same name as mine, whose family willingly gives her to me as a gift in charity, is available, I shall wed her duly. With her, I will raise offspring for your redemption so that you, my fathers, may attain eternal regions of bliss and rejoice as you wish.”

The condition seemed impossible until Vasuki, the king of the serpents (Nagas), offered his sister as a bride. Vasuki’s sister was also named Jaratkaru, meeting the sage’s condition. This alliance was also significant for Vasuki, as it was foretold that the offspring of Jaratkaru and his sister would play a crucial role in protecting the serpent race from the sacrificial fire in the SARPA Satra (snake sacrifice) that King Janamejaya would later perform. Jaratkaru married Vasuki’s sister, and she lived with him, sharing his austere lifestyle. She was a devoted and supportive wife, and together they had a son named Astika. By fulfilling his duty and continuing his lineage through Astika, Jaratkaru ensured the liberation of his ancestors. The Pitris could finally attain salvation, free from their cursed state.

Story of Kadru and Vinata

The story begins with two beautiful sisters, Kadru and Vinata, who became the wives of the sage Kashyap. He offered them each a boon. Kadru desired a thousand powerful serpent sons, while Vinata wished for two sons surpassing Kadru’s offspring in every way. Kashyap granted both wishes. Kadru laid a thousand eggs, and Vinata laid two. After a long time, Kadru’s eggs hatched a thousand serpents, but Vinata’s remained unhatched. Overwhelmed by jealousy, Vinata cracked one egg open prematurely. The enraged child within cursed Vinata to become a slave for five hundred years. He explained that if she patiently waited for the other egg to hatch, her unborn son would be the one to free her. The child, who became the sun god’s charioteer, then ascended to the sky. Five hundred years later, Vinata hatched the remaining egg, revealing Garuda, the mighty serpent-eater. Upon emerging, he quickly departed in search of food. This sets the stage for the future conflicts between serpents and Garuda, and ultimately, the lineage leading to Astika.

The Wager and the Curse

After churning the ocean, the magnificent white horse Uchchaihsravas emerged. Kadru and Vinata saw the horse and debated its colour. Vinata declared it white, while Kadru cunningly countered that the tail was black. They made a wager: the loser would become the other’s servant. Kadru, fearing defeat, hatched a plan. She ordered her thousand serpent sons to hide around the horse’s tail, making it appear black. However, the noble serpents refused, unwilling to deceive. This enraged Kadru, and she cursed them to be consumed by fire in a future snake sacrifice. The heavens witnessed this harsh curse. Brahma, the creator, understood its necessity. Though heartbroken, he acknowledged the danger these venomous snakes posed to other creatures. He and the gods ultimately supported Kadru’s action as a way to maintain balance. Brahma then comforted Kashyap, the father of the serpents, explaining that their destruction was preordained. He also offered Kashyap knowledge of counteracting poisons, hinting at a potential future saviour.

Astika at the Sarpa Satra

Astika grew up under the care of his uncle Vasuki. Cyavana Muni taught him the Vedas. He became a wise and learned sage.

King Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu, once insulted a sage named Samika, leading Samika’s son, Srngi to curse the king to die by the bite of Taksaka within seven days. Despite taking refuge in an isolated palace and employing various protections, Taksaka, disguised as a Brahmana, bit and killed the king. Janamejaya, Parikshit’s son, performed the obsequies for his father and then organized a snake sacrifice (Sarpasatra) to exterminate the serpent race in revenge. Many serpents perished in the sacrificial fire, but Taksaka, hiding with Indra, remained unharmed. The priests decided to summon Indra along with Taksaka to the fire using their mantras.

At this point, the gods sought help from Jaratkaru to save the serpents from death. Jaratkaru told Astika, “I am that Jaratkaru, given to your father by Vasuki. You must now save us from the fire.” Astika confidently vowed to extinguish the terrible punishment and set off for Janamejaya’s sacrifice. There, he was initially refused entry but managed to get in. He then began to adore the king, the priests, and the sacred fire. Janamejaya offered Astika any boon he desired, even if ungrantable. As Takshaka was about to fall, Astika quickly requested, “Let this sacrifice end, and no more snakes fall into the fire. Janamejaya, reluctant to end the sacrifice, offered Astika gold, silver, or cattle instead.  Astika refused, insisting, “Let your sacrifice end so my maternal relations may be saved.” Janamejaya repeatedly urged Astika to ask for another boon, but Astika stood firm. Finally, all the learned priests unanimously told the king, “Let the Brahmana receive his boon!” And the snake sacrifice was stopped.

Life lessons from the story

The story of Astika and the Snake Sacrifice imparts several profound life lessons, illustrating themes of duty, destiny, sacrifice, and the intricate interplay between personal actions and their broader consequences. Here are the key lessons:

1. Duty and Responsibility to Family

Jaratkaru’s Decision: Jaratkaru, despite being an ascetic, marries and has a child to save his ancestors. This highlights the importance of fulfilling one’s duties toward family and lineage, even if it means setting aside personal aspirations.

Astika’s Mission: Astika, born with the purpose of saving his maternal relations, fulfils his duty by stopping the snake sacrifice, showing the significance of family loyalty and responsibility.

2. Sacrifice for the Greater Good

Jaratkaru’s Asceticism: He maintains his ascetic lifestyle even after marriage, showing that personal sacrifice is sometimes necessary for a higher cause.

Serpent Sacrifice: Kadru’s curse and the ensuing sacrifice underscore the idea that sometimes hard decisions must be made for the greater good, as seen in the gods’ acceptance of the serpents’ fate to maintain cosmic balance.

3. Destiny and Preordained Events

Predictions and Fulfilment: The prophecy about Jaratkaru’s offspring and the foretold destruction of the serpents illustrates the inevitability of destiny and how individuals play roles in fulfilling these larger cosmic plans.

Astika’s Role: Astika’s birth and actions are preordained to save the serpent race, reinforcing the concept of destiny and predetermined roles in the grand scheme of life.

4. Wisdom and Diplomacy

Astika’s Approach: Astika uses wisdom and diplomacy to stop the snake sacrifice, showing that knowledge, respect, and tactful negotiation are powerful tools in resolving conflicts and achieving goals.

5. The Interconnectedness of Actions

Curse and Consequences: The curse by Kadru leads to significant future events, demonstrating how actions, even seemingly minor ones, can have far-reaching consequences.

Jaratkaru’s Marriage: His decision to marry for the sake of his ancestors’ salvation affects the fate of many, emphasizing the interconnectedness of personal actions with broader outcomes.

6. Compassion and Forgiveness

Astika’s Compassion: Despite the serpents’ prior wrongdoings, Astika’s plea to end the sacrifice reveals a lesson in compassion and forgiveness, suggesting that mercy can prevail over vengeance.

7. Adherence to Promises and Integrity

Jaratkaru’s Vow: Jaratkaru’s commitment to marry only under specific conditions and for a higher purpose shows the importance of integrity and staying true to one’s promises.

Astika’s Boon: Astika’s insistence on using his boon to save the serpents, despite other tempting offers, underscores the value of staying true to one’s mission and principles.

8. Balance Between Asceticism and Worldly Duties

Jaratkaru’s Dual Role: The story of Jaratkaru balancing his ascetic life with his duty to his family illustrates the need to find a balance between personal spiritual pursuits and worldly responsibilities.

9. Power of Knowledge and Learning

Astika’s Wisdom: Astika’s education and wisdom enable him to accomplish his mission, highlighting the power and importance of knowledge in achieving significant goals.

10. Role of Divine Intervention

Gods’ Involvement: The involvement of divine beings in guiding and supporting the key characters underscores the belief in divine intervention and support in fulfilling righteous duties.

11. The danger of excessive revenge: Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice, while motivated by grief, was excessive and potentially harmful, teaching us about the risks of unchecked vengeance.

12. Respect for all life: The story ultimately advocates for the preservation of life, even of those considered enemies, promoting a broader ethic of respect for all creatures.

In summary, the story of Astika and the Snake Sacrifice teaches us about the importance of duty, sacrifice, wisdom, compassion, and the interconnectedness of actions, emphasizing the need to balance personal and familial responsibilities with a higher purpose.

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The Plight of Jaratkaru and the Birth of Astika

Jaratkaru was an extraordinarily powerful sage, said to rival even Prajapati in his abilities. He was renowned for his extreme asceticism, living as a Brahmachari – a celibate student devoted to spiritual pursuits. Jaratkaru’s rigid self-control was legendary. He ate very little and practiced severe austerities that most people couldn’t endure.

One day, while wandering the world and bathing in sacred waters, Jaratkaru came upon a bizarre and disturbing sight. He saw several men hanging upside down in a deep pit, clinging to a rope made of grass fibres. This rope was being gradually gnawed through by a rat.

When Jaratkaru inquired about their identity, the men revealed they were his own ancestors. They explained they were in this predicament because Jaratkaru, their descendant, had chosen a life of asceticism instead of marrying and having children. Because they had no offspring to perform the necessary rites, they were trapped in this limbo state.

Moved by their plight, Jaratkaru agreed to marry and have a child, but with an unusual condition – he would only wed a woman who shared his exact name. This seemed an impossible task, but as fate would have it, the king of snakes, Vasuki, had a sister named Jaratkaru.

Vasuki, aware of a curse threatening the snake race, had been seeking a suitable husband for his sister. When he heard of the sage Jaratkaru’s condition, he offered his sister in marriage. The sage initially hesitated, unsure if she truly shared his name, but eventually accepted after confirming this detail.

Jaratkaru married Vasuki’s sister according to proper rites. Their union resulted in the birth of a son named Astika, who grew to become an excellent sage in his own right. Astika played a crucial role in saving the snake race from destruction during a grand snake sacrifice performed by King Janamejaya.

Through his actions, Jaratkaru fulfilled his duty to his ancestors, allowing them to ascend to heaven. He also indirectly helped avert the destruction of the snake race. After many years of fulfilling his worldly and spiritual obligations, Jaratkaru himself ascended to heaven, leaving behind a legacy of duty, sacrifice, and the balance between ascetic and familial responsibilities.

This story illustrates the complex interplay between personal spiritual pursuits and familial obligations in Hindu philosophy, as well as the far-reaching consequences of one’s choices across generations.

Balance between personal pursuits and familial duties: Jaratkaru’s story shows the importance of finding a balance between individual spiritual goals and responsibilities to family and lineage.

Consequences of our actions across generations: The plight of Jaratkaru’s ancestors shows how our choices can affect not just ourselves, but also past and future generations.

Adaptability and compromise: Jaratkaru’s willingness to adjust his life path when confronted with his ancestors’ suffering teaches the value of flexibility and compromise when faced with competing obligations.

The importance of continuation of lineage: In many cultures, including Hindu tradition, continuing one’s family line is a crucial duty. This story emphasizes that perspective.

Fulfilling multiple types of debts: Jaratkaru’s actions show how one might need to fulfil various obligations – to ancestors, to society, and to spiritual pursuits.

The power of names and identity: The condition of marrying someone with the same name highlights the significance of names and identity in some cultural contexts.

Interconnectedness of all beings: The story connects humans, divine beings, and animals (snakes), illustrating the interconnected nature of all life in Hindu philosophy.

Unintended consequences of extreme behaviours: Jaratkaru’s initial extreme asceticism, while spiritually admirable, had negative consequences for his ancestors, teaching that even well-intentioned actions can have drawbacks.

The role of fate and divine intervention: The seemingly impossible condition of finding a bride with the same name being fulfilled suggests the role of fate or a divine plan in our lives.

Redemption and second chances: The story shows how it’s possible to correct one’s course and fulfil neglected duties, even later in life.

The value of sacrifice for the greater good: Jaratkaru’s decision to marry for his ancestors’ sake, and later Astika’s role in saving the snakes, demonstrate the importance of personal sacrifice for a larger cause.

Balancing asceticism with worldly duties: The narrative suggests that complete renunciation may not always be the highest path, and that engaging with the world can also be a form of spiritual practice.

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